Despite the agreement within reach, the threat of action at KLM is increasing. The cabin unions of FNV and VNC have issued an ultimatum to the management. The management must come up with a better salary proposal for next Wednesday, according to the unions in the letter to personnel director Aart Slagt.

The airline made an offer last week for 7% more wages. "The situation is different from two weeks ago. KLM has made commitments, including to make it to the finish line as an employee.

I notice that the willingness to take action among my people is decreasing ”, says Ottenhof. According to him, it is important that there is a commitment to increase the number of rest days for employees with many night shifts and early shifts, so that they have sufficient recovery time before their next shift starts. The technical personnel receive a special surcharge.

On Wednesday morning, KLM distributed a pamphlet to the ground crew, in which she called on FNV director Jan van den Brink to stop the strike. "According to KLM, an agreement is within reach," it says.

Partner Delta, Transavia, Air France also affected

Three out of eight KLM unions do not yet agree with the KLM management's proposal. The FNV Cabine union and the Dutch Cabin Crew Association are not participating in the strike actions on Wednesday. During four hours flights will partly not be handled by ground crew. This also affects flights from partners such as Delta, Transavia and Air France.

FNV Process Industry has an ultimatum

The collective bargaining negotiations have also stalled with Aircraft Fuel Supply, the fuel supplier at Schiphol. FNV Process Industry sets an ultimatum after eighteen months with difficult negotiations. The main points are good wage development and the retention of age days to be able to keep up the heavy work.

Aircraft Fuel Supply is responsible for the coordination and distribution of kerosene at Schiphol. Most of the employees are over fifty years old. Brandenburg: 'The work is hard and the shifts also put a heavy burden on the staff. That is why, in the context of sustainable employability, we argue for the continuation of the age days in order to be able to continue the hard work, but also for further measures so that people can retire healthy. That is also important for the continuity of the company. ”

Negotiations already started in the summer of 2018, before the collective labor agreement that expired on 1 January 2019. The union's proposal is to retroactively conclude a two-year collective labor agreement, which runs until December 31, 2020.

Also read: Ground staff KLM announces another strike